Masala goes Boom Boom

Recently, I was part of a discussion on films and cricket, and whether a successful confluence of the two was possible. The venerable Sam Collins had most of us agreeing when he pointed out that a major obstacle was the fact that sport regularly provided the sort of implausible scenarios that would come across as trite if scripted. Ashton Agar's 98 on debut from No. 11 in the Ashes was one such example. My own feeling was that, in addition, the viewer's experience would be let down by a cinematic approach to depicting the game, particularly the use of sound effects and gameplay.

In that sense, it is plausible that masala films would provide the most agreeable paradigm for cinematically translating cricket. Referred to as masala for their mixture of genres (action and comedy and romance and drama), such films are part of a greater tradition of oral narrative. Think epics with linear plots, comedic and musical tangents, simple good v evil dynamics, happy endings.

Originally looked down upon by intellectuals, masala films with their populism and mass appeal are now embraced and celebrated thanks to post-modernism. In the context of cricket and films, this means that an over-the-top storyline, bombastic characters and sounds, as well as a sickeningly saccharine resolution would be expected rather than dreaded. After all, the ultimate aim of any masala film is to entertain the public. (Gee, I wonder who that reminds us of?)

Main Hoon Shahid Afridi (I am Shahid Afridi) is a story of an underdog team's rise against the backdrop of a fictional domestic cricket tournament in Pakistan. It revolves principally around Akbar Deen, a former international cricketer seeking redemption after a UAE drugs scandal left him shunned. He is the reluctant coach of the Sialkot Shaheens, owned by the hilarious yet lovable Malick Khalid, and led by Shahid Bhatti - an amateur cricketer hoping to become Boom Boom. Pitted against them is the magnificently Modi/Packer/Stanford-esque Mian Asif, who owns the Islamabad Hunters - a team of boys from the "elite ruling class". Mian Asif, in the first of a million twists, is also Akbar's father-in-law.

As a film, MHSA is quite ludicrous in its construction. Despite a street-smart score and decent soundtrack, the remarkably funny and sharp dialogue is recorded in a way as to make it seem to belong to an error-strewn student film. The colour correction is similarly jarring, displaying as much logic as a typical Afridi innings, often completely changing tones mid-scene. And even making allowances for the masala format, many of the plot lines are lazily developed and hastily resolved. Nevertheless the depleted nature of Pakistani cinema's intellectual, technical and financial resources requests, if not demands, a level of charitableness in opinion.

To be a successful masala film, MHSA required an underlying fantasy; the earliest masala films were about mythological tales. In Pakistan during the past few decades, the local film industry saw its fortunes dwindle, but blindly held onto the once-popular but increasingly irrelevant gandasa-wielding badmaash formula, based on violent rural revenge fantasies. The genius behind MHSA, in contrast, is its expropriation of cricket as the overarching source of the fantasy on which its plot is based, a relatively unprecedented approach in mainstream Pakistani cinema.

The requisite good v evil narrative of every masala film is provided in MHSA by the class differences - rather than regional, ethnic or religious ones - with the rich Islamabad Hunters players being "gentlemen who will speak and talk to foreigners without feeling insecure".

In contrast, the Sialkot Shaheens are all working-class ruffians who have little other than their dreams. There are numerous father-son conflicts throughout the plot, which are resolved through the traditional miracle-of-god* and tears-of-mother approach, but also through cricket. The game exists as one of the archetypes upon which the film's moral universe rests.

In being such, the film offers a window into Pakistan; a window only as true as an Afridi hoick that ends up over cover for six, but a window nevertheless that shows a Pakistani identity far more endearing and relatable than the infinite attempts made post 9/11 by the media, and in literature and film.

To use a cliché when it is finally due, MHSA is a truly "mercurial" film.

*(It actually rains right at the very moment the cocky Australian coach of the Hunters mocks the Shaheens with the immortal line: "Ab kahan hai tumhara khuda? Where is your God now?")

This article shows Boom Boom Afridi is one of the most famous Cricketer in the world!!!

Dummy4
on September 24, 2013, 2:56 GMT

@Omer Ayaz Say what you feel like, but Shahid Afridi is the only cricketer in Pakistan side that fills the stadium whatever part of the world he goes. Count the number of leagues he plays or played. England, Australia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, India. Was even offered in West Indies. People actually pay money to buy tickets to see him. You can not say this for any other Pakistan cricketer.

Asim
on September 22, 2013, 12:47 GMT

@Joshmon. I completely disagree that Afridi is the reason of pakistans batting failure but i think its the opposite.If people were following Afridi than they would have try to hit every ball but most batsmen pakistan have today are blockers who just keep blocking and the get out and thats the reason for pakistan failure.pak team is lacking aggression which is oppsite to Afridis way.Anyway no need to be jealous of Afridis popularity bcse he is one of the most famous cricketers by pakistan.Those people can wait to see if someone makes a movie men hon tuk tuk misbah :) and then like it.

Dummy4
on September 22, 2013, 11:00 GMT

hard to believe that there is a movie on a guy who hardly have performed when it mattered, has played over 350 ODI's just based on one century, And other more talented players have missed out on getting a chance bcz of him...just shows where Pak cricket is today!

Dummy4
on September 22, 2013, 7:40 GMT

It was certainly entertaining, I do not remember getting bored even though the execution of the movie could have been better.

Vikas
on September 22, 2013, 0:09 GMT

Afridi is a lovable cricketer if he cuts down on his trash talk and his fickleness

Nicholas
on September 21, 2013, 21:10 GMT

Ahmad 33... 'not what you think it he is'... Explain?!

Mani
on September 21, 2013, 19:05 GMT

Humayun Saeed's 'Main hoon Shahrukh Khan'. I mean ''Main hoon Shahid Afridi''. A poor mans Bollywood film. High on formula, low on creativity. Perhaps the blogger can analyze why 'the depleted nature of Pakistani cinema's intellectual, technical and financial resources' exist in the first place. The answer may lie in his blog. All I know is I want my time and money back.

Muhammad
on September 21, 2013, 16:45 GMT

Even a month after the release, there are housefull shows of the film, witnessed last weekend!

Dummy4
on September 21, 2013, 15:27 GMT

@Beenod Beknowthe , this film is currently only released in pakistan, whether it will be released worldwide is still not clear. the only chance to watch it for a person outside pakistan is to wait till it is released on dvd.

Dummy4
on September 26, 2013, 5:25 GMT

This article shows Boom Boom Afridi is one of the most famous Cricketer in the world!!!

Dummy4
on September 24, 2013, 2:56 GMT

@Omer Ayaz Say what you feel like, but Shahid Afridi is the only cricketer in Pakistan side that fills the stadium whatever part of the world he goes. Count the number of leagues he plays or played. England, Australia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, India. Was even offered in West Indies. People actually pay money to buy tickets to see him. You can not say this for any other Pakistan cricketer.

Asim
on September 22, 2013, 12:47 GMT

@Joshmon. I completely disagree that Afridi is the reason of pakistans batting failure but i think its the opposite.If people were following Afridi than they would have try to hit every ball but most batsmen pakistan have today are blockers who just keep blocking and the get out and thats the reason for pakistan failure.pak team is lacking aggression which is oppsite to Afridis way.Anyway no need to be jealous of Afridis popularity bcse he is one of the most famous cricketers by pakistan.Those people can wait to see if someone makes a movie men hon tuk tuk misbah :) and then like it.

Dummy4
on September 22, 2013, 11:00 GMT

hard to believe that there is a movie on a guy who hardly have performed when it mattered, has played over 350 ODI's just based on one century, And other more talented players have missed out on getting a chance bcz of him...just shows where Pak cricket is today!

Dummy4
on September 22, 2013, 7:40 GMT

It was certainly entertaining, I do not remember getting bored even though the execution of the movie could have been better.

Vikas
on September 22, 2013, 0:09 GMT

Afridi is a lovable cricketer if he cuts down on his trash talk and his fickleness

Nicholas
on September 21, 2013, 21:10 GMT

Ahmad 33... 'not what you think it he is'... Explain?!

Mani
on September 21, 2013, 19:05 GMT

Humayun Saeed's 'Main hoon Shahrukh Khan'. I mean ''Main hoon Shahid Afridi''. A poor mans Bollywood film. High on formula, low on creativity. Perhaps the blogger can analyze why 'the depleted nature of Pakistani cinema's intellectual, technical and financial resources' exist in the first place. The answer may lie in his blog. All I know is I want my time and money back.

Muhammad
on September 21, 2013, 16:45 GMT

Even a month after the release, there are housefull shows of the film, witnessed last weekend!

Dummy4
on September 21, 2013, 15:27 GMT

@Beenod Beknowthe , this film is currently only released in pakistan, whether it will be released worldwide is still not clear. the only chance to watch it for a person outside pakistan is to wait till it is released on dvd.

Dummy4
on September 21, 2013, 12:49 GMT

MSD is captain cool, the best match winner, since Steve Waugh and Miandad may be, but well...he is captain cool, not boom boom. The unpredictable boom boom is exact opposite of MSD. Two different poles I would say.

(Why on earth people calling me Mahdi Baasit? Is my full name not showing up? No wonder I never touched Facebook until was forced by my organisation:)

Dummy4
on September 21, 2013, 12:18 GMT

from where i can download this movie...any link or torrent

Dummy4
on September 21, 2013, 11:41 GMT

Would love to watch this movie but where can I find it!?? Any suggestions?

sunny
on September 21, 2013, 11:39 GMT

Well Afridi is a bit overhyped.......had he been there in the era of Imran,miandad or wasim he wudnt have lasted in the pakistani team so long.......though no one can deny the fact that he is popular

umair
on September 21, 2013, 11:32 GMT

good movie to watch, love it

Dummy4
on September 21, 2013, 10:51 GMT

I think the Afridi is the cause of Pakistans failure. Every kid wants to be Afridi, just go out there try to hit the ball out of the ground no matter what the match situation is. And everyone hating Misbah who is trying his best for Pakistan.

Dummy4
on September 21, 2013, 10:31 GMT

what a Movie....... it is really a tremendous effort by Humayon Saeed. watched 3 times.... every time enjoyed more than previously.

Dummy4
on September 21, 2013, 10:13 GMT

love this movie,really plesure to watch....and one more thing to be added that there never had,vever has and never will be another shahid afridi

Dummy4
on September 21, 2013, 9:54 GMT

@Mahdi Baasit.. Bro u forgot MSD :):D

adil
on September 21, 2013, 9:53 GMT

@Mahdi Bassit: vow such praises for such a mercurial and fickle cricketer! I've seen him close a few times, and he most definitely is not what you think he is, trust me.

Dummy4
on September 21, 2013, 7:31 GMT

A good entertaining film. must watch it.

Dummy4
on September 21, 2013, 7:17 GMT

As a die-hard Afridi fan, I am hoping this film gets released in India. No player, bar Sachin perhaps, has so much followers wherever he goes. Neither Pakistan nor the world cricket can produce another Afridi. There are of course better alrounders than Boom Boom, but there is only one and shall be only one Shahid Boom Boom Afridi.

Biba
on September 21, 2013, 4:41 GMT

its great to see pakistan has started making such movies.

Richard
on September 21, 2013, 3:29 GMT

The problem with sporting films is that actors don't as a general rule move like athletes and the resulting action scenes bear more resemblance to my grandfather in action rather than elite athletes. Add to that flimsy plots and poor dialogue and these efforts are usually laughably poor. I haven't seen this film but I'd eat my hat if it was watchable by anyone but hero worshipping kids.

No featured comments at the moment.

Richard
on September 21, 2013, 3:29 GMT

The problem with sporting films is that actors don't as a general rule move like athletes and the resulting action scenes bear more resemblance to my grandfather in action rather than elite athletes. Add to that flimsy plots and poor dialogue and these efforts are usually laughably poor. I haven't seen this film but I'd eat my hat if it was watchable by anyone but hero worshipping kids.

Biba
on September 21, 2013, 4:41 GMT

its great to see pakistan has started making such movies.

Dummy4
on September 21, 2013, 7:17 GMT

As a die-hard Afridi fan, I am hoping this film gets released in India. No player, bar Sachin perhaps, has so much followers wherever he goes. Neither Pakistan nor the world cricket can produce another Afridi. There are of course better alrounders than Boom Boom, but there is only one and shall be only one Shahid Boom Boom Afridi.

Dummy4
on September 21, 2013, 7:31 GMT

A good entertaining film. must watch it.

adil
on September 21, 2013, 9:53 GMT

@Mahdi Bassit: vow such praises for such a mercurial and fickle cricketer! I've seen him close a few times, and he most definitely is not what you think he is, trust me.

Dummy4
on September 21, 2013, 9:54 GMT

@Mahdi Baasit.. Bro u forgot MSD :):D

Dummy4
on September 21, 2013, 10:13 GMT

love this movie,really plesure to watch....and one more thing to be added that there never had,vever has and never will be another shahid afridi

Dummy4
on September 21, 2013, 10:31 GMT

what a Movie....... it is really a tremendous effort by Humayon Saeed. watched 3 times.... every time enjoyed more than previously.

Dummy4
on September 21, 2013, 10:51 GMT

I think the Afridi is the cause of Pakistans failure. Every kid wants to be Afridi, just go out there try to hit the ball out of the ground no matter what the match situation is. And everyone hating Misbah who is trying his best for Pakistan.

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